The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
MORGAN, JOHN C.
Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 326th Bomber
Squadron, 92d Bomber Group. Place and Date Over Europe, 28 July 1943. Entered
Service at: London, England. Born: 24 August 1914, Vernon, Tex. G.O. No.: 85,
17 December 1943.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while
participating on a bombing mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe, 28 July 1943.
Prior to reaching the German coast on the way to the target, the B17 airplane in which 2d
Lt. Morgan was serving as copilot was attacked by a large force of enemy fighters, during
which the oxygen system to the tail, waist, and radio gun positions was knocked out. A
frontal attack placed a cannon shell through the windshield, totally shattering it, and
the pilot's skull was split open by a .303 caliber shell, leaving him in a crazed
condition. The pilot fell over the steering wheel, tightly clamping his arms around it. 2d
Lt. Morgan at once grasped the controls from his side and, by sheer strength, pulled the
airplane back into formation despite the frantic struggles of the semiconscious pilot. The
interphone had been destroyed, rendering it impossible to call for help. At this time the
top turret gunner fell to the floor and down through the hatch with his arm shot off at
the shoulder and a gaping wound in his side. The waist, tail, and radio gunners had lost
consciousness from lack of oxygen and, hearing no fire from their guns, the copilot
believed they had bailed out. The wounded pilot still offered desperate resistance in his
crazed attempts to fly the airplane. There remained the prospect of flying to and over the
target and back to a friendly base wholly unassisted. In the face of this desperate
situation, 2d Lt. Officer Morgan made his decision to continue the flight and protect any
members of the crew who might still be in the ship and for 2 hours he flew in formation
with one hand at the controls and the other holding off the struggling pilot before the
navigator entered the steering compartment and relieved the situation. The miraculous and
heroic performance of 2d Lt. Morgan on this occasion resulted in the successful completion
of a vital bombing mission and the safe return of his airplane and crew.